"Why did she do that? I thought she was a friend.", whined Sailor Moon. Mercury shook her head and insightfully replied, "She's trying to protect us, but she's wounded, I don't think she can fight him alone and...". The others realized what she was saying and silently added, "and survive." Jupiter hopefully asked, "How did you know she's wounded, Mercury?" . Mercury answered, "From where I was standing, I could see her holding her side, she was bleeding." "oh." quietly replied the others. Venus pointed up, "She forgot to shield that window!" Tuxedo flew up in a flash. Landing on the window, he called down, "Sailor Scouts, don't lose hope! I'll be back." They nodded to his encouraging words. Sailor Moon whispered, "Be careful." Tuxedo Mask nodded as if he heard her, then jumped out the window.
"Who is she and why did she seem so familiar? When or where they met was a mystery to him. As so much of his past was." It suddenly dawned on him that the pain from Raven's attack was gone. He was now close enough to see the clearing where they now battled. She was losing. Raven yelled something & a smoke cloud shot towards Sailor Dove and engulfed her. Tuxedo finally reaching striking distance. "If her rose worked, maybe mine will too.", he reasoned as he threw his rose towards the black beast. . As the deadly smoke disappeared, Dove fell to the ground. Tuxedo anxiously wondered, "Is she dead?" The rose struck it's target, Raven's shoulder, who screamed in pain. Tuxedo not wasting this moment, darted for her. Picked her up and raced away from the scene. Tuxedo noted, "Good, Unconscious, but still breathing." He flew up to hide in the tree nearby. Raven recovering from his wound was too weak to follow but shouted vengefully, "You have no idea who your dealing with, Cape boy. Next time, you won't be so lucky!" With that he disappeared in a blaze of thick smoke. Tuxedo Mask jumped down and started back towards the temple. As he carried the strange lady he looked at her mask and wondered, "Sailor Dove, who are you?".
Sailor Moon and the scouts ran towards him shouting something. Suddenly he understood Sailor Moon's panicked words, "The Moon Scepter! Raven's got the Moon Scepter!" Tuxedo Mask upon seeing Sailor Mercury with a first aid kit from the Temple, gently laid Sailor Dove down. Mercury and Jupiter began to minister to her wounds. "Tuxedo Mask what are we going to do?", wept Sailor Moon as she ran into his arms. He regretfully responded as he held her, "I'm sorry, I didn't know." Sailor Dove smiled gently, "Now there m'lady, you wouldn't be speakin' of this here thing?" From within her cape she drew out the scepter. All were amazed and speechless. Venus leaned down and helped her stand up. Nodding to Venus that she was fine, Sailor Dove walked alone to Sailor Moon. Handing Sailor Moon the wand as she bowed. The look on her face was all the thanks Dove needed. Now feeling the full effect of her new & old wounds, Dove couldn't hide the pain any longer. Mercury said, "Please, you need-" Now surrounded by the concerned Scouts, she stepped back into the middle of the circle. Jupiter & Mercury tried to reach out to support her. But, Dove bowed her head & crossed her arms while whispering, "PRISM POWER!" Flying upwards, she disappeared in a flash of rainbow light. Venus remembering her questions called, "Please wait!". Dove's voice gently replied, "'til next time and thank you... my friends."
For a long time they just stood gazing upward. Sailor Venus broke the silence first, "Its strange, I feel as though we've met each other before." Tuxedo Mask only nodded as they all continued to gaze upward. Only Sailor Mars walked forward and knelt down. Picked up something, then turned to the others to show them what she had found. For in her hands she held a yellow rose.
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